New podcast about creativity from Umeå

In early April, Umeå residents will have a new podcast to listen to. Behind the podcast whose theme is creativity and creation is Johan Sehlstedt, together with eXpression Umeå, VK Media, Henson and Evermind Design. The podcast is called Kill your darlings and will premiere on 6 April.

We welcome initiatives that involve and promote the creative and cultural industries. The more people who can take part in the lives of these creators, the more they can inspire them to dare to create and take the step towards sustainable entrepreneurship, which is positive for society as a whole. Umeå has many creative people to learn from and be inspired by. We are really looking forward to sharing their lives through Johan and the Kill your darlings podcast, says Rivia Oliveira, Communications Manager at eXpression Umeå.

We've been talking to podmaster Johan to dig a little deeper about what the podcast will offer and which creative geniuses we'll be inspired by.

Initiator and podcaster Johan Sehlstedt.

- Let's hear, how did you come to start a podcast about creativity? I've been carrying the idea around for a while and finally felt it was time. It was just too interesting to let go and leave it on the drawing board.

- What is the structure and purpose?
Kill your darlings is an eight-episode miniseries, with each episode featuring a local creator. The aim is to explore creativity and creation from the perspective of Umeå, and hopefully be a small inspirational spark. I've tried to go deep and find answers to whether you can learn to be more creative, whether creativity only has value when it serves a purpose, and how you can make the most of your ideas.

- Who do we get to know better during these 8 episodes?
They are eight super talented people with different backgrounds and motivations: Marc "UÅ" Strömberg, Linnéa Therese Dimitriou, Ludwig Franzén, Emil Åreng, Maria Persson, Anna Parry, Alexander Juneblad and Sofia Fredricks Sprung. I've tried to find a breadth and range, so that there will be something in the podcast for as many different listeners as possible, whether you're interested in art, spoken word, music or gastronomy.

For me, creativity is about seeking answers to something unanswered. Which can be based on several things, sometimes curiosity, sometimes obsession, sometimes something completely different. It's a search anyway! - Johan.

- Have you podcasted before? If not, what have you learned in the meantime?
I don't have a podcast on my resume since before, which has meant lots of new experiences and lessons to take away. It's everything from learning how to be 110% present in a conversation, to how to edit. Since it's a miniseries that ultimately seeks answers to a big question, it's been a lot about finding the form and finding the storytelling of the series. I find I can talk about this a lot! It's been as fun as it has been challenging, and I think I'll be able to pick the fruit of knowledge from this basket for a very long time.

- What is creativity for you?
I think my own perception and view of the concept has changed quite a bit. I had a completely different input than what I came out with after talking to the guests. For me, creativity is about seeking answers to something unanswered. Which can be based on several things, sometimes curiosity, sometimes obsession, sometimes something completely different. It's a search anyway!

- When, where and how can we get the podcast?
The podcast premieres on 6 April on Spotify, iTunes, Acast, YouTube and all other places where you can listen to podcasts. A new episode will be released every Tuesday throughout the spring.

Many of the creators have been seen in the corridors of eXpression, and Anna Parry, who is part of eXpression today, will talk about what creativity means to her in the final episode.

Tune in and be inspired!